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Impoverished 11-year-old Tim (Christ Marquette) takes up the sport of boxing to get even with the bullies in his life--specifically, his brother Steven (J. Evan Bonifant) and his uncle Frank (Richard Burgi). Anxious to prove to Tim that there are better reasons to become a boxer, angel Rafael (Alexis Cruz) determines that this life lesson can only be provided by someone who has experienced first-hand a child's struggle for survival. The man needed for this assignment is man found: Muhammad Ali, ingratiatingly playing "himself." Though Ali is effective enough, it requires a near-tragedy for Tim to finally come to terms with his inner demons...and for his thoughtless family to see the error of their ways.